REPEATED discovery of human poos by a bench in Stroud town centre have led police and the council to remove it.

The bench used to be in a cubby hole on Union Street between Iceland and the square where the farmers' market is held.

But it has now been removed on a "trial basis", according to the district council, because it has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

A spokesperson for Stroud District Council explained: “Sadly the position of this bench has been a focus for anti-social behaviour and we have had to regularly clean urine and faeces from around it.

"We consulted with the local police and Stroud Town Council, and all agreed that removing the bench on a trial basis should assist with the reduction of anti-social behaviour there.”

A spokesperson for police said: “The bench was removed after concerns were raised that street drinkers were using the location as a way to go undetected due to the bench being hidden from view.

“We assisted the council throughout and the decision was made in a joint consultation.”

One member of the public thinks police and the council have made the wrong call.

They said: "We have lost a public bench because of the street drinking. But street drinking is illegal, so actually we have lost a public bench because the police are unable to uphold the law in town.

"Because there aren't enough of them!"

They also doubt people will be put off - the opposite, in fact.

"Now it's an even bigger covered area than before," they continued.

"Sure enough there was someone sleeping in there this morning.

"Guess what he said once he'd roused himself: 'It's much better now they've moved that bench, isn't it?'

"Gordon Bennett!"

This is not the first time anti-social behaviour and attempts to tackle it have come at the cost of public facilities.

Last summer the toilets on Bedford Street were temporarily closed by the council after the discovery of needles.